(12.18.06) Recommends:

The Return of the Arcade Fire.

Intervention.

(12.07.06) Recommends:

Sean Hayes.

He is a local musician. This is particularly true if you are in the San Francisco Bay area. Otherwise, I suppose: He is a musician. Anyway. He has two(!) albums out this year. "Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star" and "Alabama Chicken". He plays indie-folk music. Kind of M. Ward. Kind of Mason Jennings. With an occasional over-the-top San Francisco hippie freak bent; i.e., he'll be playing an otherwise good song, and then start going on about Babylon. And you'll swear patchouli is wafting from your speakers. But if you can get over that, I think you'll like. Go to his myspace and listen to "Pollinating Toes" (yes, that title is a bit much, but the song is pretty awesome).

(12.05.06) Recommends:

DeVotchKa, "Curse Your Little Heart" (Ace Fu, 2006).

So this is an EP of cover songs. Maybe not the best intro to the band, you say? Fine, follow the following:

1. Cover your head with both of your hands;
2. Go to their myspace (you'll obviously have to click that link with your nose since your hands must be covering your head, lest your heads contents will spill upon your computer screen upon hearing) to get a sense of their songs;
3. Enjoy.

There you go, folks. If you likee-likee then go to their website, where you can stream Curse Your Little Heart.

(12.04.06) Recommends:

Getting off to a strong start.

If you're like me then your week is going to be long and grueling and generally not fun. So in times like this it is imperative that we get off to a strong Monday. We need energy and we need positive vibes. So, if you're just not feeling it yet, keep repeating this song; it's like instant coffee for your emotions. Or something.

(12.03.06) Recommends:

Belle + Sebastian, "The Life Pursuit" (Matador, 2006).

So, as I was putting together my Best of 2006 mixed CD recently I kept coming back to this CD, desperately trying to figure which of its songs I would include. I went with “Another Sunny Day.” While I was doing this I began to wonder: are we as a country properly recognizing just how great this band is? How like in 20 or 30 years this band will be regarded as one of the definitive bands of its generation? You know, they’re from Scotland and all, so maybe some of us think they’re a novelty act? I’m glad they exist; they are very necessary. Go to their myspace and listen to Another Sunny Day. You'll have one.

(12.02.06) Recommends:

Giving me something to talk about.

Holy goodness! I have not had anything to recommend since like the middle of October. And it's not for want of awesome things taking place in the world. It's because I've been completely out of the loop. No joke: this week alone I have spent the better part of two entire days thinking about this legal theory called "right of publicity", which is a "creature of state law", and I've been seeing how it intersects with, and is possibly preempted by, federal copyright law.

Why have I been dwelling on this issue lately? The answer to that would be long, and most definitely not be interesting to any of you, my dear readers. So. Proposition: send me an email, and tell me something that you have experienced lately that has inspired you. Seriously. I know people read this site (yes, yes, I know things people). And I'd love to hear what people are experiencing as I am hiding out. And that way, I can have something to write about.

Also: I recently made a Best of 2006 CD that I would be happy to send to anybody who is interested. Again, just drop me an email.